BLOG # 40 JANUARY 25, 2015
MONDAY: ELDER
JUDD TAUGHT HIS LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF THE SAVIOR CLASS. ELDER JUDD’S THOUGHTS: Monday evening’s class went very well as we
discussed Matthew 16 and 17. We talked about the importance of personal
revelation and how that concept/principle makes the Restored Church different
from any other church in the world. We had 16 students come to class, which is more than I have had in any of my classes since we arrived here in
Tampa. After class, I got into a lengthy discussion with one the class members,
a law student, who leans toward supporting the rights of the LGBT community.
Our discussion center around not “oppressing” them with our standards, but
supporting their right to live that life style. I referred to Elder
Oaks most recent General Conference talk on loving all men as the Savior taught
us, but at the same time not facilitating them in that life style. It is
apparent to me that there are many young people in the Church that are tainted
by the arguments of the LGBT people and they buy into their false philosophies
and logic without thinking these things thru to the end. I pointed out that the
laws that the Lord has given us are designed to preserve society, and that a
society that turns from those laws will self-destruct. I am concerned for our
young people today who are bombarded from every side with such false teachings
both in school and out. Without a strong testimony, Church members at every age
will be faced with the reality of Heber
C. Kimballs prophecy: "We cannot survive on borrowed light. We will have to get
a testimony of our selves or fall. " IT IS SAD IN SOME WAYS TO KNOW THAT
THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE BEING INDOCTRINATED WITH WORLDLY VIEWS IN THEIR
CLASSES. WE HOPE THAT THIS CONVERSATION
WITH THIS STUDENT WILL BE A REMINDER THAT THAT GOD’S LAWS ARE FOR ETERNITY,
MAN’S LAWS ARE NOT.
AFTER
CLASS WE HAD THE FHE DEVOTIONAL IN THE INSTITUTE ROOM AND THEN MOVED THE WHOLE
GROUP DOWN TO THE GYM FOR THE BOARD GAMES. THEY HAD 8 TO A TABLE HAD 5 TABLES FULL—THAT
IS A REALLY GOOD NUMBER AND EVERYONE HAD A GREAT TIME. I DID
NOT EVEN KNOW WHAT SOME OF THE GAMES WERE. IT WAS FUN TO TRY SOME OF THEM.
ONCE AGAIN ON
WEDNESDAY ABOUT 15 STUDENTS CAME TO ELDER JUDD’S CLASS—IT IS STARTING TO PICK UP NOW THAT THEY KNOW THAT HE WILL TEACH THEM CORRECT TRUTHS AND PRINCIPLES. ELDER
JUDD HAD ANOTHER GREAT EXPERIENCE THAT I THINK IS WORTHY OF TELLING. ELDER
JUDD: As we discussed the importance of personal revelation, a
33 year old man came into class and sat down. His name was Richard. As we talked
about the necessity of having our own personal testimony, Richard raised his
hand to comment. He bore a strong testimony of how several years ago he had
joined the Church because of the love and friendship he found in the Church.
Then he told the class how he had struggled spiritually since his baptism. It
was just this week that he felt a need to see the missionaries and try to get
his feet on the ground. His prayers were answered as to what he needed to do as
he walked into class. He now knew that he had to know of the truth by personal
revelation. He knew by the Spirit that the Lord had led him into the class so
that he could learn how to know for himself the direction he should take. I
felt impressed to tell him that the Lord had guided him to class for that very
purpose. He agreed that that was true. That was a great experience for all
those in the class.
THURSDAY DINNER PREPARATION DAY—WOW-- ANOTHER MEAL! T
DOES NOT SEEM TO END! WE HAD TACO SOUP,
CHIPS-SALSA, AND DUMP CAKE. THIS WAS AN EASY PREPARATION. WE STARTED THE DAY BY
OPENING CANS OF BEANS, DICED TOMATO, TOMATO SAUCE, AND BROWNING THE ONION AND HAMBURGER. BY THE DINNER CAME AROUND THE SMELLS OF THE SOUP WAS PRETTY GOOD. WE
HAD ABOUT 45 YSA AND 4-6 MISSIONARIES.
WE ALSO HAD BRO. HOPEGOOD COME AND HELP WITH THE FOOD, HE WAS A GREAT
HELP. THAT WAS A GOOD THING. I NEED TO
TELL YOU ABOUT THE SIMPLICITY THIS CAKE. -- PUT FRUIT ON BOTTOM, CRUMB BUTTER
AND CAKE MIX TOGETHER AND PUT IN OVEN. FANTASTIC DESSERT!. MAYBE SOME OF YOU HAVE FIXED THIS BEFORE I
HAVE NOT, BUT IT WAS SO GOOD. I THINK THAT I WILL HAVE A FEW CAKE MIXES IN MY FOOD STORAGE FROM NOW ON. AFTER CLASS AND
DINNER WAS FINISHED A LOT OF THE STUDENTS JUST STAYED AROUND AND TALKED FOR
SEVERAL HOURS. IT IS A GREAT EXPERIENCE TO LISTEN TO THESE YOUNG PEOPLE.
DURING THE CHRISTMAS
BREAK THE KITCHENAID’S MOTOR BURN UP. IT WAS SAD BECAUSE I USE IT EVERY WEEK. THE
INSTITUTE DOES NOT HAVE A BUDGET FOR SUCH AN APPLIANCE, SO IT WAS QUITE
CONCERNING WHAT I WAS GOING TO USE. AS WE TALKED ABOUT THE SOLUTION WE ALL FELT THAT MAYBE SOMEONE IN ONE OF THE
STAKES COULD DONATE SUCH AN APPLIANCE..
SO WE ALL THOUGHT AND PRAYED ABOUT IT.( I KNOW SUCH A INTERESTING THING TO PRAY
FOR.) BUT ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THIS
PROBLEM WAS MADE KNOW SOME ONE
DONATE A NEW MACHINE. I KNOW THAT HEAVENLY
FATHER WILL BLESS THAT PERSON'S LIFE AND THE INSTITUTE. I FELT LIKE I WAS HAVING CHRISTMAS ALL OVER
AGAIN. THIS IS A GREAT FRIDAY.
THE LONG COUNTER IN THE
OFFICE/KITCHEN DOES NOT HAVE A GOOD LIGHT SOURCE ON IT SO FOR MONTHS I WOULD
ASK OUR F.M. MANAGER AND HIS BOSS IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR AN UNDER-COUNTER
LIGHT TO HELP ME SEE WHAT I WAS DOING BETTER. I FELT LIKE I WAS PREPARING IN THE DARK A LOT. AND THEN ,TODAY, HE CAME
INTO OUR OFFICE WITH A NEAT SURPRISE AND IT WAS CHRISTMAS AGAIN. HE WAS ABLE TO
PURCHASE A 16’ STRING OF LCD LIGHTS WITH A TINY REMOTE TO TURN IT OFF AND ON. HE PUT IT UP WITH DOUBLE STICK
TAPE AND IT WORKS GREAT, BETTER THAN GREAT IN FACT. I AM SO THANKFUL AND
BLESSED.—IT SURE MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
WE WENT TO THE OLIVE
GARDEN AND HAD A VERY NICE MEAL AND CAME HOME AFTER A QUICK STOP AT THE MAFERIK’S
REDBOX MACHINE FOR A COUPLE OF MOVIES(THANKS TO OUR ST. GEORGE GRANDDAUGHTERS –THEY
SHOWED US HOW TO USE THE RED BOX MACHINES—-HOW HARD IS THAT TO FIGURE OUT. WELL
IT WASN’T EASY‼
ELDER JUDD: Saturday
we slept in and then cleaned the apartment and drove to St. Petersburg proper
to see the Farmer’s Market. When we arrived, all the vendors were taking things
down packing things up and leaving. We walked thru what was left and decided to
come back on another day to see what it is like in full swing. What we did see
gave us a good idea that this was a big thing in this area. There was
everything from clothes to Himalayan Salt Lamps on display as well as a lot of
garden fresh produce from the local Florida growers. That is pretty interesting
considering the fact that this is January. On the way home we stopped for a few
groceries then came home for a French Bread Pizza dinner and then settled down
to catch up on our writing and other computer work.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO
SUNDAY JUST SO WE CAN BE RENEWED FOR THE NEXT WEEK, BUT IT WAS AN ADDED BONUS TODAY
BECAUSE IT IS FAST DAY. THESE YOUNG
PEOPLE JUST JUMP UP AND BEAR THE STRONGEST TESTIMONIES AND SHARE THEIR SWEET SPIRITS WITH US. AFTER THE SACRAMENT MEETING YSA ALWAYS HAS A
DINNER TO BREAK THE FAST. TODAY IT WAS A BREAKFAST MEAL. I AM SURE THAT THEY FED AT LEAST 70 YSA’S.
THAT IS A GREAT TURNOUT. WE TOOK SOME
PIONEER PORRIDGE—IT IS DIFFERENT TO LOOK AT BUT TASTES REALLY GOOD AND THOSE THAT WERE
NOT PICKY SAID THAT THEY REALLY LIKED IT.
IT COMES FROM GEORGIA AND OUR SECRETARY, SISTER HOPEGOOD, BROUGHT IT BACK
TO US FROM HER CHRISTMAS VACATION. NEXT WEEK IS THE BRANDEN ST. CONFERENCE
MEETINGS SO WE WILL MEET AT THE ST. CENTER. WE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE HAVE
HEARD AND THE TESTIMONIES THAT WERE BORNE
.
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